Sanju Samson's 46-ball 76 went in vain as Mitchell McClenaghan took 3/31 to bowl Mumbai Indians to a thrilling eight-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday. Chasing a stiff 188-run victory target, Rajasthan managed 179/7 in their 20 overs and lost the way after Samson was dismissed by McClenaghan in the 18th over. Samson kept Rajasthan in the hunt with a superb knock that was studded with 3 sixes and 7 fours. McClenaghan bowled magnificently to dismiss Steven Smith (23) and Karun Nair (7) apart from Samson. Despite Samson's heroic efforts, Rajasthan slipped towards a gut-wrenching defeat. It was McClenaghan, who dismissed Samson and Nair in one over to change the course of the game and Lasith Malinga then snared Deepak Hooda's wicket to seal their fate. Samson played shots in a 360-degree arc to keep Rajasthan in the hunt and the way he smacked Malinga over deep mid-wicket for a six and followed it up with a scoop gave a glimpse of his immense ability. Shane Watson and Steven Smith also played handy knocks. But in the end, Mumbai just about held their nerve to emerge victorious. Mumbai registered their second successive victory and Rajasthan lost their third game extending their winless streak to five matches. Earlier, Ambati Rayudu struck a breezy half-century to help Mumbai Indians to score 187/5. Rayudu, promoted to No. 5 ahead of Kieron Pollard, justified the faith in striking a quickfire unbeaten 53 in 27 balls, laced with 3 sixes and four boundaries as it helped MI to recover from 120 for four after 15 overs.
